[honkywonk]

I finally got to hear the Magic Kingdom sax quartet (a.k.a. Main Street Saxophone Quartet a.k.a. Fantasyland Sax Quartet) in person. :thumbrig:

One of the things that is innovative is that they almost always use a bass sax not a baritone. On popular-type music this presumably gives a much better bass line than bari, at the cost of a sore back and considerably more cost for the instrument. But then again, it must be practically the only bass sax in the world that is actually paying its way in terms of producing playing fees on a regular basis. Am I right in guessing that except for the occasional use in studios or shows or one-off concerts, that there probably isn't another bass sax in the world that comes close to paying its way with regular, paying gigs?

I'll comment on the quartet as a whole over on the "Saxophone Solos and Ensembles" thread. Let it suffice to say, I found it well worth the effort to track them down and hear them.

 

[paulwl]

Vince Giordano in NYC pretty much has the monopoly on high-profile bass sax gigs - there's room for one name player and he's it. He's had his satin-gold Conn for 20 years or so and I imagine it's paid for itself by now.

 

[booboo5000]

Vince Giordano in NYC pretty much has the monopoly on high-profile bass sax gigs - there's room for one name player and he's it. He's had his satin-gold Conn for 20 years or so and I imagine it's paid for itself by now.

Was he the guy playing at the final LCD Soundsystem concert at MSG in April? I was really surprised to see a bass sax in the horn section.

 

[Dave Dolson]

Out on the west coast (USA) there are two bass saxes in one band, Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band (Paul Woltz, who also does alto; and John Goodrich, who also does soprano and clarinet), out of Seattle. Their bass duets have been very popular and the band is hot. They do trad jazz festivals and quite a few each month. Do trad-jazz festivals pay well? Nope, but they are a lot of fun and when the Uptown Lowdown gets it on, you will be drowned in bass sax sounds. Look for SINCE MY BEST GAL TURNED ME DOWN, by Uptown Lowdown on youtube. DAVE

 

[Bari Sax Guy]

Nice Bass playing !

What are those small stools that they are setting the Bass Saxes on? I want one!

 

[Zenin]

Nice Bass playing !

What are those small stools that they are setting the Bass Saxes on? I want one!

They look like guitar footrests.

 

[Smokey613]

Here they play 3 Bass Saxes....

 

[Bari Sax Guy]

They look like guitar footrests.

Thanks, I thought the same thing. It looks like at least most of the guitar foot rests have a minimum 10 degree tilt. Do you know if any of them adjust to a full horizontal position?

 

[Chris D]

Here's a picture of my daughter conducting the Disney World sax quartet in a rendition of Bippity Boppity Boo today outside the Mickey's Philharmonic theater at the Magic Kingdom!